Stepping into God’s Story - Candlewood Church

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode Eight - A Better Beginning

March 10, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Ephesians 4:15–16

How many times have you gone somewhere to eat or gathered at a party and had some “first impressions” of your experience? We are fairly fickle folks, aren’t we? We have these gut reactions to the environment, the people around us, and our interactions with others. When it comes to first impressions, how do people view Christ? Being the ambassadors of Christ, how are we doing at speaking or behaving like Him? Let’s discover some ways we can embody Jesus in the world around us.

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode Seven - A New People

March 3, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Matthew 13:31–32

Like a mustard seed, the kingdom of heaven did in fact start VERY SMALL; imperceivable by almost everyone at the time. However, in our fast-paced culture and world, it’s easy to devalue small beginnings. Think about this: Jesus launched His new mission and vision with just a dozen guys. After His death, His followers grew to 120 and then within a few days exploded into 3000 people. How? Let’s talk more about it on Sunday and what it means to be “A New People.”

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode 6 - Jesus

February 25, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Matthew 1:1

How do thousands of years of epic earth history culminate in just one person’s birth, life, and death? How does the life cycle of one individual on this planet affect every other human being ever born? How do all of the Old Testament stories find their fulfillment in New Testament? This is how…God planned it! It all comes together as one big, impactful, life-changing story because of Jesus. This Sunday we’re talking about how Jesus is enough. In fact, he’s more than enough!

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode 5 - Exile and Return

February 18, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Proverbs 4:7–8

What happened to deep thinking? What happened to logical processes and consequences? What happened to WISDOM, and why do people quit seeking it? I drive our freeways and cruise our Costco shopping isles and see rude, aimless people. It’s almost as though everyone is invisible and they are the only ones in existence on this planet! Graciousness, gratitude and courtesy is so shocking to barista’s, cashiers and wait staff that it seems to arrest their soul. They seem to snap out of doldrums of their day and smile! Wisdom works! Wisdom is a superpower in a Gimme world.

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode Four - Land and Kingdom

February 11, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Hebrews 12:5–8

Have you ever had a friend or family member who just constantly and consistently lets you down? Proverbs 13:12 talks about the effects of hope being deferred, drawn out, or delayed – it makes us heartsick! We even tell folks, “don’t get my hopes up!” Compare that to someone who just always seems to come through for you. They can be counted on and have proven themselves dependable. When it comes to our walk with God, are we the flakey friend or the dependable one?

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode 3 - Rescue and Law

January 28, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Romans 4:1–5

Does being “good” get you into Heaven? Studies show that 52% of Christians, 70% of Catholics, and one third of senior pastors all say “Yes.” Overall, 54% of U.S. adults believe they will get to Heaven after they die, and 63% of adults believe “having faith matters more than which faith you have.” So…what do you believe and why do you believe it? Let’s discuss why God brought The Law (The 10 Commandments) and how they should affect the way we live now.

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode Two

January 21, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Genesis 12:1–3

Imagine you're going for a walk, when all of a sudden you hear a voice. Maybe not an audible voice, but a clear, loud thought in your head – and you know it’s not from you. The voice says to you, “Leave Lakewood, leave California, leave your relatives, and go to the city that I will show you.” This kind of thing rarely happens, but when it does happen, it’s real! God uses all people to accomplish His purposes. For us to understand the Story of God better, we have to understand an ancient family: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Stepping into God’s Story - Episode One

January 14, 2024 • Pastor Glenn Garvin • Genesis 1:1–5

Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, introducing yourself to someone normally doesn’t include a bunch of “stats-n-facts.” Usually, you tell a story. You lead with a story because you’re a person, God leads with His story because God is personal and wants us to know Him. This week, let’s step into God’s big story and find out who He is, who we are, and (most importantly) find out who we are in Him.